How to grow and care for rosemary outdoors in the Rostov region
The specific climate of the region affects the rules, requirements and timing of sowing specific crops. To grow rosemary in the open field, you don't have to do anything special in the Rostov region. It is enough to patiently and carefully follow the instructions, and the spice will repay with an excellent, fragrant harvest.
The specifics of growing rosemary in the Rostov region
Grow rosemary in several ways, the preferred one is chosen by the summer resident himself. A feature of the Rostov region is that the plant does not tolerate winter frosts well, therefore it is recommended to dig it up for the winter or cover it well. Otherwise, the cultivation of this spice on the site has no peculiarities. It is important to show more patience, and the result will not be long in coming.
Plant propagation method
Frosts in early spring are detrimental to the culture, so summer residents are not advised to plant the plant in the ground too early. Presumably, for the Rostov region, this period falls on April 1-20. When the threat of severe frosts has passed.
The plant is propagated in 2 main ways: planting seeds and cuttings. The first method is very time consuming, since you need to have patience to wait for the first shoots of rosemary. But it's worth it, because the spice is used not only as a seasoning for a dish. But there are many other ways to use it.
It is faster and easier to propagate a culture by cuttings, this is the most effective and fastest way that most gardeners use.
There are other ways to reproduce rosemary, this is the division of the bush. Mainly used for home-grown spices. The method is complex and time consuming.
The plant is propagated by layering, this method is widely used for bushes growing in open ground.
Landing dates
The time of sowing seeds in the Rostov region falls on the first ten days of April. One should beware of severe cold. In order for the plants to start producing medicinal spicy herbs earlier, they are planted in pots in late February or early March. Or they grow seedlings, then transfer them to open ground.
Plants are propagated by cuttings or layering after the warm season comes. Because rosemary is very vulnerable at this moment.
Landing
In the open ground of the Rostov region, it is preferable to grow a spice with planting material, since this method is more reliable. But summer residents who want to get a harvest faster and earlier are actively using other breeding methods.
Growing from seeds
Seeds must be soaked before planting. It is enough to put in warm water for several hours. Swollen rosemary is sown in containers to a depth of 3-4 cm. It is advisable to use sand. The planted material is covered with polyethylene or glass until shoots appear.
Don't forget about humidity. The soil is sprayed from a spray bottle, preventing the earth from drying out.
The optimum temperature for germination is + 20 ... + 25 ⁰С. Then you just have to wait. Rosemary sprouts very slowly, in the best case, the sprouts will hatch in 1.5 months, in the worst case in 2 months.
Propagation by cuttings
With this method, rosemary yields much earlier. This method requires:
- Several 1-year-old spice shoots 8-10 cm long.
- The lower leaves are removed from the shoots, the cut is treated with brilliant green. To improve the result, they are left in a root formation stimulator for several hours.
- Then they are placed in a permanent place or in water until the roots appear. Some summer residents use wet sand instead of water.
Further care consists in regular irrigation of the land or spraying. In order not to harm the rosemary, it is placed away from direct sunlight. The first roots will appear only after a month.
In order for the bushes to give lateral shoots, they pinch the tops.
Layers
A cut is the rooting of the branch closest to the ground. It is bent down and firmly fixed with staples or stones. Then the branch is covered with soil so that only the crown remains on the surface.
Watering should be done regularly, at the same time as the main bush. As soon as growth appears, separate from the mother bush and plant. Several layers are separated from one bush.
Circumcision and grooming
Regardless of the area in which the spice is grown, it requires some care. In addition to meeting standard agricultural requirements such as watering, weeding and loosening, the plant requires pruning.
Every 7-8 years, rosemary completes its life cycle, the plant begins to wilt. To save him from death will help pruning at the root. You need to remove all branches and give the spice a chance to recover from scratch.
Shelter rosemary for the winter
In the Rostov region, cold winters, rosemary does not withstand temperatures below -5 ... -10 ⁰С. Therefore, in order to preserve this perennial plant, it is worth working hard since the fall.
As soon as the first frosts begin, the rosemary root system begins to freeze. Summer residents recommend transferring it to pots and putting it away in a warm place. An unheated utility room is suitable for storage. Rosemary overwinters well at room temperature.
Growers grow rosemary in wide containers to reduce plant stress. This is necessary in order to bring it back to the street in the spring and dig it in, thereby not harming the spice.
It is useless to cover with anything, since a plant covered with a covering material on top may freeze. This is due to the fact that the ground near the bush freezes through, and it gradually, during the winter, dies completely.
Harvesting and storage
The plant has the greatest strength during the flowering period. At this time, it contains the maximum amount of essential oils useful for the human body.
For culinary purposes, fresh and dried leaves are used. And also whole twigs are actively used, which are used to decorate ready-made dishes.
The leaves are carefully cut and dried in a dark, well-ventilated area. After they are completely dry, they are crushed and used to make spice mixtures. Store the leftovers in a tightly sealed container. Rosemary retains its properties for 2 or more years.
The cultivation of spices in the Rostov region is practically no different.You have to work hard to get this product. But the result is worth it. The beneficial properties of rosemary can hardly be overestimated, every person after using it will feel its effect on the body.
